Area Sport Fishing Reports
Haines/Skagway
Archived Sport Fishing Report
November 17, 2014
Winter fishing report
Coho (silver) salmon
The peak of the run is past, but coho salmon can still be caught in open water on the Chilkoot River and the Chilkat River and its tributaries. The river waters are low and clear. Sudden rises in the river water level from rain and thaw events can cloud the water and decrease angler success. The National Weather Service tracks the Chilkat River water level for the past week and predicts the level for the next 3 days.
Coho salmon sport fishing limits on the Chilkat River are 6 per day and 12 in possession. Chilkoot River coho salmon limits are 2 per day and 2 in possession.
Counts on Chilkat River spawning streams are complete and showed an escapement of 132,000 coho salmon, well above the goal range of 30,000 to 70,000 fish.
Char and Trout
Dolly Varden and cutthroat trout are wintering in deep waters of the Chilkat River, Chilkat lake, Mosquito Lake, Chilkoot River, and Chilkoot Lake.
Bait is prohibited when fishing in Chilkat Lake or Mosquito Lake and their inlet and outlet streams. Use the Sport Fishing Regulations link for details and a map.
Sockeye salmon
The Chilkat Lake weir counts exceeded 70,000 sockeye salmon, which is the lower end of the escapement goal range (70,000 to 150,000 fish).
The Chilkoot River weir counts of 105,000 sockeye salmon exceeded the upper end of the escapement goal range (38,000 to 86,000 fish).
Pink salmon
The Chilkoot River pink salmon run was late and about 40% of average. Pink salmon never really showed up in the Chilkat River fish wheels, where catches were only 2% of average.
Pink salmon have a 2-year life cycle. Runs in upper Lynn Canal tend to be stronger in odd-numbered years than in even-numbered years.
Halibut
Halibut catch rates declined this fall when larger fish moved south, out of the Haines area.
King salmon
Now through March 31, 2015, sport anglers may use 2 rods when fishing for king salmon.
The Chilkat River king salmon run fell short of the escapement goal range in 2014. Spawning ground surveys are complete.
The August king salmon feeder fishery in Taiya Inlet did not materialize this year, and catches earlier in the summer were also weak.
King salmon broodstock failed to show up at ADF&G's weir in Pullen Creek in August. King salmon smolt releases in Pullen Creek have become intermittent due to lack of broodstock in 2012 and 2014. About 250,000 hatchery-reared smolt will be released in Pullen Pond in June 2015, and ADF&G will attempt to collect adults for broodstock in August 2015.